TST Annual Report 2015
The Small Things annual report 2015, recapping the incredible progress we've made this year in supporting orphaned and vulnerable Tanzanian children.
The Small Things annual report 2015, recapping the incredible progress we've made this year in supporting orphaned and vulnerable Tanzanian children.
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TheSmallThings<br />
BuildingandSupportingHappyFamilies<br />
<strong>2015</strong><strong>Annual</strong><strong>Report</strong>
Contents<br />
Leterfrom theFounder<br />
FastFacts<br />
NkoarangaOrphanage<br />
HappyFamilyChildren’sVilage<br />
FamilyPreservationProgram<br />
SuccessStories<br />
Volunteers<br />
MeettheTeam<br />
Financials
Leterfromthefounder<br />
<strong>2015</strong>wasanotheryearofenormousgrowth<br />
and change for<strong>TST</strong>,and Icouldn’tbe<br />
happierormoreproudoftheresultswehave<br />
been able to achieve on a smalbudget!<br />
Nkoaranga Orphanage hasundergone a<br />
majorresearch-based reform withourhelp,<br />
improving atachment, development<br />
outcomes, and overal health. The<br />
orphanageexperiencedadropinilnesand<br />
hospitalizationofwelover50%,doubledthe<br />
caretakingstaf,initiatedasupervisorsystem,<br />
andmadesignificantphysicalimprovements<br />
totheinfrastructure.Wewereabletodothis<br />
primarily through the generosity of Nick<br />
OhnelandtheOhnelFamilyFoundation,as<br />
welasouramazingsponsors!<br />
OurfounderandExecutiveDirectorBekka<br />
with hertwo children adopted from the<br />
orphanage,ZawadiandSaimon<br />
HappyFamilyChildren’sVilageopenedinJune,creatingwarm familyhomesfor<br />
childrenaged5to10.Fivepreviously-traumatizedchildrenreturnedfrom boarding<br />
schooltoliveinthesehomesandhavethrivedmeasurablysincetheirreturn.Seven<br />
childrencametousfrom theorphanageorpilothouse,andfourcamedirectly<br />
from familiesinneed.Wewerealsoabletoreunifysixresidentialchildrenwiththeir<br />
families!WeareverygratefultoShaziVisram andHappyFamilyBrandsfortheir<br />
supportinmakingthisconstructionposible,inhonorofShazi’sbeloved father,<br />
Amir.Finaly,ourFamilyPreservationProgram hasgrownexponentialy,andhas<br />
helpedmorethan25familiescreatesustainablefuturesforthemselvesandtheir<br />
children.Thisprogram hasbeen primarilyposible through the supportofthe<br />
Seedlings Foundation,who have also helped to underwrite some ofour<br />
administrativeexpenses.Readonfordetailsonoursuccesthisyear,and<br />
Thankyou,fromthebotomofmyheart,<br />
forbeingpartofit.<br />
Withloveandgratitude,<br />
BekkaRosRusel<br />
FounderandExecutiveDirector
FastFacts<br />
MissionStatement<br />
<strong>TST</strong> believes in building and<br />
supporting happy families,in al<br />
theirvariousshapesandforms.We<br />
create sustainable,participatory<br />
and evolving care plans for<br />
orphanedandvulnerablechildren<br />
andfamiliesintheMerudistrictof<br />
Tanzania. Working with the<br />
community,weaim toempower<br />
our clients and bring together<br />
smalactsfrom aroundtheworld<br />
tocreatebigchange.
FastFacts<br />
<strong>TST</strong><strong>2015</strong>bythenumbers<br />
Childrencaredforresidentialy:46<br />
Childrenkeptinfamilies:43<br />
Childrenreunifiedwithfamily:6<br />
Familiessustainablyaided:26<br />
Childsponsorships:145<br />
Familysponsorships:5<br />
Tanzanianstaf:48<br />
Expatriatestaf:7<br />
Totaloperatingbudget$280,000
NkoarangaOrphanage<br />
<strong>2015</strong> was a yearofenormous change and progres forNkoaranga<br />
Orphanage,a localinstitutionthatwepartnerwithtocreatehappyearly<br />
childhoodsforvulnerablekids!Attheendoftheyear,theorphanagehoused<br />
22wonderfulchildren,mostofwhom wereundertwoyearsold,withafew<br />
threeandfouryearolds.BigMaureen,Miriam,andBarackamovedtothe<br />
children’svilageatthebeginningof<strong>2015</strong>inordertobeginatendingschool,<br />
andtheywerejoinedbyVicky,EsterandShalom laterintheyear.Filipo,Litle<br />
Maureen,andShujaawerereunifiedwiththeirfamilies,justbeforetheybegan<br />
school,throughourFamilyPreservationProgram.Wearesohappyforthem to<br />
bebackwheretheybelong!Without<strong>TST</strong>’sexpandedpartnershipin<strong>2015</strong>,itis<br />
posiblethattheorphanagewouldhaveclosed,andthesechildren’sfuture<br />
wouldbeentirelyuncertain.
NkoarangaOrphanage<br />
Thisyear,wehelpedplanandimplementafuloverhauloftheorphanage,<br />
including doubling the numberofcaregivers,hiring stafsupervisors,and<br />
trainingonatachment.Oneachshifttherearebetween5and6individuals<br />
onduty,upfrom 3-4in2014and 1-2in2011!Significantphysicalupgrades<br />
werealsocompletedthisyear,includingcreatinganew playspaceatached<br />
tothebabies’room,refinishingthemainplayroom floor,instalinggates,a<br />
hygienearea,andasolarwaterheater,andbuildinganoutdoorcovered<br />
drying area to ensure availabilityofdry,sanitaryclothesduring the rainy<br />
season.The mamasreportan improvementin overalchild health and<br />
achievementofdevelopmentmilestones,and faced no majormedical<br />
situationsrequiringadmisiontoreferalhospital,forthefirsttimesinceatleast<br />
2010!
HapyFamilyChildren’sVilage<br />
Thisyear,theHappyFamilyChildren’s<br />
Vilage in loving memory ofAmir<br />
Visram oficialy opened!About20<br />
childrennow havelovingfamily-style<br />
homes,greateducation,and bright<br />
futuresthanksto ShaziVisram and<br />
HappyFamilyOrganics.Wewerealso<br />
abletoreunifyfourchildrenwiththeir<br />
biologicalfamilies,andAnna,Stevie,<br />
QueenandVickyarealthriving.
HapyFamilyChildren’sVilage<br />
Twochildren’shousesandastafhouse<br />
havealreadybeencompleted,whilea<br />
communitybuildingandmorehousing<br />
are stil in progress. A beautiful<br />
playgroundwasalsobuiltthroughthe<br />
generosity offormervolunteers!The<br />
childrenaredeeplyembeddedinthe<br />
communityandraisedlikethenormal,<br />
happy,healthy Tanzanian kids that<br />
they are, despite many having<br />
experiencedsignificanttrauma.
FamilyPreservationProgram<br />
Throughourfamilypreservationprogram,wehelpfamiliesincrisistoremainintact,<br />
improvetheirlifechancesandlesentheimpactofthepovertytheyface.Wedo<br />
thisinanumberofways,includinghealth,educational,businesorsocialsupport.<br />
Theythenreceiveregularchecksandadjustmentofsupportthroughouttheirtime<br />
intheprogram.In<strong>2015</strong>wekept26familiestogether,andhad5familesgraduate!<br />
Microfinance<br />
Microfinanceandbusinesdevelopmentarethecoreofthisprogram,alowing<br />
familiestodevelopsustainablelong-term incomestreamsfortheirfamilies.They<br />
takebusinesclasestolearnthebasicnecesaryskils,thenreceiveinitialgrantsfor<br />
start-upcostsforbusinesesrangingfrom livestockprojectstoclothingresaleto<br />
foodstals,plusaccestointerest-freeloans.Seethenextpageforsomeofour<br />
successtories!<br />
Povertyisnever<br />
anaceptable<br />
reason<br />
forafamilyto<br />
betornapart
FamilyPreservationProgram
SucesStories<br />
MamaMax<br />
MamaMaxisa50yearoldwomanwithsixchildrenwhosehusbanddied<br />
in1990.Shelivesinawoodenhousewithtwolitlerooms,usingoneasa<br />
livingroom andtheotherasabedroom (whichMamaMaxsleepsinwith<br />
herfouryoungestchildren).InorderforMamaMaxtobeabletocarefor<br />
thefouryoungchildren,whohadnotbeenatendingschoolandwerein<br />
poorhealth,<strong>TST</strong>helpedhertosetupachickenbusines.Thiswassucha<br />
succesthatMama Maxwasabletostartherowngoatand banana<br />
busineses!She isalso partofthe firstgroup ofmamasto workinour<br />
outreachgarden.MamaMaxisnow quiteindependentandcantake<br />
goodcareofherfourkidsathome!Shenow servesasamentorforother<br />
mamasintheprogram.<br />
MaurenMdogo<br />
Maureen Mdogo (litle Maureen)hasbeen atthe orphanage since her<br />
motherpasedawayduringchildbirth,fiveyearsago.Maureen’sfatherisalso<br />
involvedinherlife,butcannottakeherhomeduetofamilycomplications.<br />
Heroldersisterwasinschool,completingachildcaredegree,andwasable<br />
totakeMaureenhomeassoonasshefinishedinDecember<strong>2015</strong>.Maureen<br />
hasnow startedschoolatAmaniEnglishMedium andwehavehiredDada<br />
Maureen(Maureen’ssister)asacaretakerattheorphanage.Maureenloves<br />
beingathomewithhersisterandtoldusshedoesn’tlikeschoolbecauseher<br />
sistercan’tcomewithher!<br />
Chichi<br />
Chichiisa22yearoldorphanwhohadbeenunabletofindemploymentand<br />
wasunabletocoverherrentorfoodcosts.Thankstohersponsors,Chichiis<br />
now thriving!<strong>TST</strong>asisted Chichiin seting up a second-hand clothing<br />
busines,whichwassosuccesfulthatshecannow coverherownbasic<br />
needs.She wasalso able to investheradditionalprofitsinto creating a<br />
secondprojectwithchickens,whichshethensoldtosetupaTHIRDbusines<br />
creating and seling Maasaishoes!Herpasionforshoescame from the<br />
clothingbusinesasmanyofhercustomersshowedhighinterestinthem as<br />
wel.Chichiplansto establish herown permanentplace foralofher<br />
businesesinthenearfuture.Wearesoimpresed!
Volunteers<br />
Volunters<br />
TheSmalThingswelcomedmanyvolunteersthroughout<strong>2015</strong>,witharangeofskilsonoferto<br />
supporttheongoingworkoftheorganization.Thirteennew andfourreturningvolunteersarived<br />
throughouttheyear,withsomevolunteerpresenceonthegroundavailableeverymonth.In<br />
additiontothis,visitsfrom fourboardmembershelpedincreasethenumbers,whileprovidinga<br />
varietyofexpertisewithintheorphanage,thechildren’svilageandthegeneralfunctioningof<br />
<strong>TST</strong>.WeLOVEourvolunteers!
MettheTeam<br />
ProgramStaf<br />
BekkaRosRusel<br />
Founderand<br />
ExecutiveDirector<br />
MarthaAyo<br />
(MamaPendo)<br />
HeadMama<br />
JasonSmith<br />
Operations<br />
Manager<br />
RehemaMusa<br />
Program<br />
Manager<br />
JesicaManna<br />
ChildWelfare<br />
Coordinator<br />
JosephSimanga<br />
Community<br />
Development<br />
ReubenPalangyo<br />
SocialEnterprise<br />
Coordinator<br />
MikiRusel<br />
Sponsorship<br />
Coordinator<br />
ValerianMchau<br />
Accountant<br />
Ouramazingcaretakersandsuportstaf
Financials<br />
Thankstothegenerosityofoursponsorsanddonors,weraisedover$240,000 in<strong>2015</strong>in<br />
operationalfundsalone(excludingconstruction).Ofthis,about$115,000camefrom<br />
majordonorsand foundations,while the remaindercame from smaldonorsand<br />
sponsors.Ouroperatingbudget,includingsavingsfrom 2014,cametoaproximately<br />
$280,000 forthe year.We are extremely proud ofwhatwe have been able to<br />
accomplishonsuchasmalbudget!Formostorganizationsinthedevelopedworld,our<br />
incomewouldonlybesuficienttohireoneortwostafpluscoveroficecosts.Here,we<br />
areabletopaysalariesforover50staf,careforover100children,keepmorethan25<br />
familiestogether,andstilretainanoverheadpercentagewelbelow 15%.Over90% of<br />
ourbudgetisspentinTanzaniaandgoesstraightbackintothelocaleconomy!
"Thereareonlytwolastingbequestswecan<br />
hopetogiveourchildren.Oneoftheseis<br />
rots;theother,wings."<br />
Tolearnmoreortobecomeadonor,sponsororvolunter:<br />
www.thesmalthings.org
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